Words by Corinne Casella | Photo by David Turcotte

Dr. Dog played the second night of their Terminal 5 run on March 19th to a packed house, lighting up Hell’s Kitchen from the inside out. Openers, Hop Along got the crowd pumped and primed with their unique freak-folk-punk sound. The indie rockers played a strong mix of youthful angst, melancholy and authenticity. Their performance was punctuated by singer Frances Quinlan’s ripping vocals, reminiscent of a melodious Kim Gordon.

Originally conceived as Quinlan’s solo act, the band received a more defined sound with the later addition of Quinlan’s brother Mark Quinlan on drums, Joe Reinhart on guitar and Tyler Long on bass. The set was an explosive mix of new and old songs, set to Frances Quinlan’s idiosyncratic lyrics and impressive vocal range. Hop Along’s meteoric sound made for a performance that was far more than filler music waiting for the main act, it was a wholly singular experience in of itself.

Next Dr. Dog took the stage in full force, with their signature psychedelic folk rock and pitch perfect harmonies. The group lost no steam from the previous night’s performance, exciting the crowd with a polished sheen to their honed homegrown sound. Shooting from the hip with material off their new album, The Psychedelic Swamp, including ‘Holes In My Back,’ and ‘Fire On My Back.’ Rounding out with crowd pleasers like ‘Hang On,’ ‘That Old Black Hole’ and ‘I Only Wear Blue,’ bassist Toby Leaman and guitarist Scott McMicken, traded off vocals, amidst a prism of neon lights. The six piece played like the indie veterans they are, displaying their tight cohesive blend of lo-fi twang, 60’s influenced psych-pop and trademark sense of humor. The set was a mix of the old and new, showing off the band’s versatility and impressive catalog.

Highlights of the night included a stellar cover of Architecture in Helsinki’s ‘Heart It Races,’ as well as originals like ‘Turning the Century,’ and ‘Jackie Wants a Black Eye.’ With an impressive seven song encore, Leaman took individual requests from the audience, showcasing the group’s experimental and improvisational style. McMicken, who is at the top of his lyrical game, touched on the broad range of human emotions with open-ended questions like “What does it mean to be here?,” from ‘The Ark.’ Howling guitars punctuated the Beatles’ influenced ‘Alaska.’ Ending with a harmonized version of ‘The Truth,’ off their 2013 release the B-Room, Dr. Dog marked the night as a homage to their illustrious and diverse 17-year career.

www.drdogmusic.com

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